News (Media Awareness Project) - US IA: LTE: Head Shops Don't Help Patients |
| Title: | US IA: LTE: Head Shops Don't Help Patients |
| Published On: | 1997-12-11 |
| Source: | The Altoona Herald Mitchellville Index |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-07 18:42:17 |
Viewpoint Letters to the Editor
Head Shops Don't Help Patients
To thc editor:
In the late afternoon of Nov.26, I received an inquiry from Mr. Carl E.
Olsen regarding the defeat of a drug legalization initiative in New York.
I told Mr. Olsen that two national news sources had reported the defeat on
Nov. 4. In his letter to the HeraldIndex on Dec. 4, Mr. Olsen had decided
that this initiative was in the state of Washington. He may indeed have
more accurate information, due to his apparent involvement with drug
legalization advocates.
It should be noted that, while Mr. Olsen presents himself as a sympathetic
advocate of the medicinal benefits of marijuana, he has been aligned with
"NORMAL," the National Organization for the Relaxation of Marijuana Laws.
Regarding his claim that distortions by law enforcement deprive medical
patients of therapeutic substances, please refer to the Dec. 8 issue of
TIME magazine.
An article entitled "Too High in California?" indicates that the
legalization initiative there has already taken an ugly turn. That
initiative was passed under the same smokescreen of sympathy for suffering
humanity.
However, it has resulted in something the voters did not foresee: An array
of marijuana smoking dens with liquor, potlaced baked goods and dancing
girls.
The article states that many of the clubs are monitored for doctor's oral
or written orders.
But other clubs seem closer to head shops than hospitals.
One proprietor says that pot can and should be used for anxiety and
depression.
Clearly, these head shops have nothing to do with helping patients and
everything to do with the spread of dope.
Mr. Olsen states that Iowa's drug law has classified marijuana as medicine
since 1979.
To my knowledge, our department has never arrested a doctor for prescribing
medicine.
We do, however, arrest people every week for possession and distribution of
controlled substances, which include marijuana.
Perhaps Mr. Olsen could clear the air in his room and study the Code of Iowa.
John L. Gray, Altoona chief of police
Head Shops Don't Help Patients
To thc editor:
In the late afternoon of Nov.26, I received an inquiry from Mr. Carl E.
Olsen regarding the defeat of a drug legalization initiative in New York.
I told Mr. Olsen that two national news sources had reported the defeat on
Nov. 4. In his letter to the HeraldIndex on Dec. 4, Mr. Olsen had decided
that this initiative was in the state of Washington. He may indeed have
more accurate information, due to his apparent involvement with drug
legalization advocates.
It should be noted that, while Mr. Olsen presents himself as a sympathetic
advocate of the medicinal benefits of marijuana, he has been aligned with
"NORMAL," the National Organization for the Relaxation of Marijuana Laws.
Regarding his claim that distortions by law enforcement deprive medical
patients of therapeutic substances, please refer to the Dec. 8 issue of
TIME magazine.
An article entitled "Too High in California?" indicates that the
legalization initiative there has already taken an ugly turn. That
initiative was passed under the same smokescreen of sympathy for suffering
humanity.
However, it has resulted in something the voters did not foresee: An array
of marijuana smoking dens with liquor, potlaced baked goods and dancing
girls.
The article states that many of the clubs are monitored for doctor's oral
or written orders.
But other clubs seem closer to head shops than hospitals.
One proprietor says that pot can and should be used for anxiety and
depression.
Clearly, these head shops have nothing to do with helping patients and
everything to do with the spread of dope.
Mr. Olsen states that Iowa's drug law has classified marijuana as medicine
since 1979.
To my knowledge, our department has never arrested a doctor for prescribing
medicine.
We do, however, arrest people every week for possession and distribution of
controlled substances, which include marijuana.
Perhaps Mr. Olsen could clear the air in his room and study the Code of Iowa.
John L. Gray, Altoona chief of police
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